About

Who the Heck Am I?!

Hello, my name is Ralph Cosentino and I’m an author, illustrator & character designer.I’ve written and illustrated a number of children’s picture books, including a series introducing the origin of Batman, Superman & Wonder Woman along with books based on my own characters.

I’ve always been a DIY creator, developing my own toys, chocolate bars and desktop games, now it’s time to embark on a venture I’m very passionate about, publishing and distributing my own books by starting Cruikshank & Wallace Publishing. I’ve been burning the midnight oil at a series of Monster books for years and it’s time to finish them up, get ‘em to the printing presses, and on your book shelves.

Cruikshank & Wallace Publishing and My Next Children's Book Series

This kickstarter campaign allows you to be a part in publishing my next children’s book series, “I am The Frankenstein Monster!” The first of three HARDCOVER monster picture books introducing the origin of Frankenstein, The Werewolf and Dracula.

Inspired by my love for monsters and the original literature and folklore, the first book takes Frankenstein’s monster from the laboratory, into the castle’s halls where he befriends the small creatures living in it and begins learning and exploring the world around him.

I set out to create a series of monster picture books that simply explained their origins and depicted a day in the life of monsters we all love. In addition I wanted to add a fun auditory component to the text that repeats throughout each story so kids or parents could do something I loved doing as a child, role play and pretend to be their favorite monsters!:" Rah! Rah! Stomp! Stomp!" - "ARF ARF AWOOOOOO!" - "
HISSSSS! MUWHAHAHA! "

Making Beautiful Books, in the USA

I’ve always been passionate about books. Even as a kid I surrounded myself with comics and books, feeding my imagination and inspiring me to become an artist and creator.

Not only was the content important to me but so was how a book was made and designed. I loved the tactile qualities of holding an older cloth bound book and admiring the beautifully designed endpapers. It completely transformed and enhanced my reading experience and made me feel like I was holding something special and more artful. Which is what I want to bring to you thru kickstarter.

Cruikshank & Wallace Publishing is going to publish books that are beautifully designed and made by craftsman printers here in the United States, using the best materials available like hardbound cloth covers with metallic inks, Smyth Sewn library binding, beautiful recycled papers, bringing quality and durability to last generations.

Why the name of Cruikshank & Wallace?

My publishing name is a dedication to John Wallace Skinner. A WWII veteran who helped liberate the Buchenwald concentration camp and one of the most incredible human beings I've ever known. I met Mr. Skinner right after college in a beautifull turn of the century building in the heart of downtown Cleveland, where I landed my first design job in the early 90s. His resume included being the director of the Salvador Dali Museum when it was first in Cleveland in the 1970s, Director of the Cleveland Aquarium, a window display designer for the Halle building, then owner of a book and print shop below the studio I worked in.

After one visit we became life long friends, in which he became a major influence in my appreciation for the craft of books, printing and the famous political cartoonist George Cruikshank. The birdcage and fleeing bird represent what reading books means to me and I think most...the ability to escape from our realities to wherever our imagination or knowledge take us.

Stretch Goals

Stretch Goals include the Werewolf and Dracula Book which are already written.

Rewards

Rewards will include DRM Free digital versions, signed copies, copies with sketches, monster button sets, limited edition prints, original art and more. With kickstarter and your help, I look forward to getting these very special books on your shelves!

Risks and challenges

I'll be working with an expert printer here in the states, but making sure artwork files are prepared perfectly for offset printing can be tricky but I hope to smooth any issues out in a timely manner and be able to ship on time. The printer and I have already begun working together testing printing on a variety of cloth materials and we've hit it off great so I feel really comfortable being able to work out any hurdles that may come our way.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $15 or more
About $15

ONE DRM FREE DIGITAL VERSION!
The "I am the Frankenstein Monster" digital version which you can read on any and as many of your devices or platforms as you like. This gets you a copy of the book lickety-split!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $20 or more
About $20

ONE PHYSICAL & DRM FREE DIGITAL VERSION!
This bundle includes the first edition, hardbound, "I am the Frankenstein Monster" book beautifully printed and manufactured in the U.S. with cloth covers, Smythe Sewn binding and more.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $25 or more
About $25

THE SIGNED EDITION!
This bundle includes the DRM free version and a SIGNED first edition, hardbound, "I am the Frankenstein Monster" book beautifully printed and manufactured in the U.S. with cloth covers, Smythe Sewn binding and more.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $45 or more
About $45

THE SIGNED & SPOOKY SKETCH EDITION!
This bundle includes the DRM free version and a SIGNED hardbound, first edition with a random monster related doodle of creepy things like the Frankenstein monster, bats, skulls etc...,

YOU RECIEVE:
• DRM free digital book
• One SIGNED 1st Edition Book + SKETCH

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $80 or more
About $80

THE MAD SCIENTIST PLEDGE!
This contribution includes the Graveyard Award PLUS a large signed & numbered limited edition print of the detailed 2-page laboratory scene in the book just before Victor Frankenstein pulls the switch!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $85 or more
About $85

THE LABORATORY PLEDGE!
This bundle includes the Signed & Spooky Sketch Edition, PLUS...you get a set of 3 monster, pinback buttons!!!

YOU RECEIVE:
• DRM free digital book
• One SIGNED 1st Edition Book + SKETCH
• 3 Monster Pinback Buttons!!!
• Choose 1 of the three signed & #d letterpress prints or the signed & #d "Chew on This" sceenprint